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Thursday, January 28, 2010

State of the Union notes

This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are," Obama said.

But it fell short for some gay activists. An organization representing service members who had been dismissed called on Obama to push a repeal in the upcoming Pentagon budget.

STAYING AT HOME: HUD secretary gets the call
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan got the nod to miss attending the speech in person -- fulfilling a requirement that someone in the line of succession stay away in case a catastrophe takes out the country's leadership.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also missed Obama's State of the Union address, but she was in London attending a conference.

REMEMBERING HAITI: A thank-you for pitching in
The president praised Americans who are helping Haiti recover. Obama said he was inspired by the "fundamental decency" of the American people. "It lives on in the 8-year-old boy in Louisiana, who just sent me his allowance and asked if I would give it to the people of Haiti," he said.

LET'S MEET: Extending a hand to the GOP
The president said he wanted to hold monthly meetings that included Republican leaders.

Obama looked at them and said, jokingly: "I know you can't wait."

A NOD TO THE MISSUS: Child obesity initiative lauded
The president lauded Michelle Obama for her initiative to lower the rate of child obesity in the country. The chamber stood in applause, while the first lady, sitting in the gallery, gently nodded.

"She gets embarrassed," Obama told members of Congress.

GALLERY GUESTS: The first lady's VIPs
The gallery guest list of 25 people sitting with Michelle Obama included:

• Tina Dixon, a former stay-at-home mom whom Obama met when he visited a jobs training site in Allentown, Pa., that received funding from the economic stimulus package